In 2024 Sheetala Ashtami is celebrated on 2nd April, Tuesday. Sheetala Ashtami is also known as ‘Basoda Puja’ and is a famous Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Sheetala. It is celebrated on the ‘Ashtami’ (8th day) of the Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight of moon) during the Hindu month of ‘Chaitra’. Sheetala Ashtami is observed after the eight days of the colorful festival of Holi.
The celebrations of Sheetala Ashtami are very well-known in
the northern states of India like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. In
Rajasthan, the Sheetala Ashtami festival is celebrated with great zeal. A
massive fair is organized for this occasion and various musical events and
programs are also staged. Devotees celebrate this festival with immense passion
and dedication.
Rituals of
Sheetala Ashtami
1) As per the traditions, On the day of Sheetala Ashtami,
the families do not light fire for cooking. They, therefore, prepare food a day
in advance and consume the stale food on an actual day. It is only in Sheetala
Ashtami that there is a special tradition of offering stale food to Goddess
Sheetala.
2)People awake early morning and take a cold-water bath
before sunrise. After taking the bath, devotees visit Goddess Sheetla’s temple
and perform the various rituals to attain a joyous, healthy, and peaceful life.
3) Several offerings are presented to the Goddess Sheetala
such as curd, Rabri, Gur, and various other essentials. Devotees also take
blessings from their elders. Food is also distributed among the poor and needy
people.
4) On the day of Sheetala Ashtami, the believers abstain from cooking and they only eat the stuff or food which was cooked a day prior. The prepared food is known as ‘Basoda’ in the regional language. Consumption of hot and fresh food is prohibited on this particular day. Devotees read ‘Sheetalashtak’ or Sheetala Mata Vrat Katha on the day of Sheetala Ashtami to granted the blessings of the deity.
Significance of Sheetala Ashtami?
It is believed that Sheetala Mata is the controller of
various diseases including smallpox, measles, and chickenpox. Sheetala Mata is
known to be an important Goddess in Hinduism. In the portrait form, the Goddess
is riding a donkey as it is the vehicle of the deity. The Goddess holds a
broomstick, a Kalash (pot) of holy water, some neem leaves, and a dustpan with
her four hands.
As per the beliefs, ‘Sheetalashtak’ can also be discovered
in the Skanda Purana. It is believed that Goddess Sheetala cleans off all the
germs. By worshipping the Goddess on this auspicious day, people can stop the
outbreak of epidemic diseases in their families, specifically among children.
The primary importance of Sheetala Ashtami is that the deity remedies the
diseases and brings health and peace in the lives of the devotees.
Happy Sheetala Ashtami to you and your family 😊😊
Hello friends I am DrRashmi Vajpayee,PhD Awardee,Assistant professor and founder of Rashmi Vajpayee's Confessions on Culture.Here I share everything about Indian Culture and Festivals.I hope you guys enjoy my content so keep reading!.
2 comments
Click here for commentsVery informative article👏👏
ReplyNice blog 👍keep up the good work👏
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